The Dutchman was axed just 24 hours after Valencia's miserable 5-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Even the Copa del Rey victory earlier this month was not enough to save Koeman's position as their league form has been woeful.

Koeman took charge with Valencia sitting in fourth, and with high hopes of making a serious push for the title.

But 21 games later Koeman leaves La Mestalla with the club sat in 16th - just two places and two points above the relegation zone.

Valencia chairman Agustin Morera led a board meeting on Monday evening when they confirmed Koeman's departure.

Indeed Morera and his fellow directors have overseen a clearing of the decks as assistants Jose Mari Bakero and Toni Bruins Slot have also gone along with sports director Miguel Angel Ruiz and technical director Antonio Fernandez.

The club have installed Salvador Gonazlez - known simply as 'Voro' - as coach until the end of the season.

Voro will be assisted by goalkeeping coach Jose Manuel Ochotorena over the final five games of the season as Los Che look to secure their place in La Liga.

Real Madrid were unable to clinch a 31st Spanish title on Sunday but their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao means they can retain their crown with victory at Osasuna next weekend.Goals from Javier Saviola, who could be on his way out this summer, Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain gave Real the spoils against Bilbao but they were also indebted to goalkeeper Iker Casillas for a crucial first half penalty save.Real stay ten points ahead of Villarreal with just 12 points to play for and know that they will lift the championship with victory over Osasuna regardless of what Villarreal do.In fact a draw would be enough should Villarreal fail to beat Getafe.

Real Betis 0-1 Villarreal

Marcos Senna's superb 50-yard lob gives Villarreal a 1-0 victory at mid-table Real Betis that takes them four points clear of third-placed Barcelona and keeps their fading title hopes alive.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard took no risks ahead of Tuesday's massive Champions League semi-final with Manchester United, resting most of his stars in a 2-0 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna that all but gifts the title to Real Madrid.

Valencia can breathe a little easier as caretaker coach Salvador 'Voro' Gonzalez guided the struggling giants closer to safety following a convincing 3-0 home win over Osasuna on Sunday.Valencia are one of the biggest clubs in Spain, winning domestic titles in 2002 and 2004 under Rafa Benitez, but are fighting relegation after one win in 10 games under ex-coach Roland Koeman.Koeman was sacked this week and the change worked with a David Villa penalty and further goals from Mata and Joaquin sealing three vital points as Valencia moved four points clear of the drop.

Racing Santander coach Marcelino is tipped to take over at Valencia next season and his team stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot despite a 3-1 loss at Real Mallorca.Racing are two points off the final Champions League place after Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 at neighbours Getafe.

Getafe, conquerors of Real and Barca this season, went ahead through Juan Albin but Argentine Kun Aguero equalised for Atletico with his 17th goal of the season.Atletico goalkeeper Leo Franco saved a late Ruben de la Red penalty as the capital side hold onto the final Champions League spot with four games left but Racing are just two points behind with Sevilla a further point back.

Elsewhere Levante became the first team to be relegated from the Spanish top-flight after a 2-0 defeat against Recreativo Huelva.Levante players agreed to call off a strike over unpaid wages but they still fell to a defeat that seals their relegation.

Recreativo are now two points clear of the drop zone with Real Zaragoza currently occupying the final relegation spot after a 1-1 draw against Español on Sunday.

Barring a miracle Real Murcia are set to join Levante in the second division with the club ten points from safety with just 12 left to play for. Saturday: Murcia 0 - 0 Sevilla

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The defending champions were down to 10 men when Francisco Punal's penalty put the struggling hosts ahead with less than ten minutes remaining before late goals from Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain ensured Los Merengues won back-to-back titles for the first time in 18 years.

Real will now be able to parade the trophy in front of their home fans on Wednesday night, when they host arch-rivals Barcelona, while Osasuna only remain outside the bottom three on goal difference.

Coach Bernd Schuster's side looked as though they would have to put their celebrations on hold after a hard-fought match with few chances, and things got worse for them when defender Fabio Cannavaro was sent off less than a minute after the break for a second yellow card.

When Gabriel Heinze handballed needlessly from a corner in the final ten minutes, Punal sent goalkeeper Iker Casillas the wrong way to calmly roll his penalty in, and it looked as though that goal would send Osasuna three points clear of the relegation zone.

Going behind forced Real into showing their quality, and they equalised with their very next attack when substitute Higuain's free-kick was headed in by Robben.

Real followed that goal up with another swift attack. This time Sergio Ramos managed to slip a ball through to Higuain in the 89th minute and the Argentinian blasted the ball past Ricardo to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and on the Real bench.

BARCELONA 6-0 VALENCIA

Barcelona bounced back from their Champions League heartbreak in midweek by thrashing Valencia 6-0 at the Nou Camp.

A match which at the start of the season was viewed as a potential title-decider was settled by two goals each from Thierry Henry and substitute Bojan, a penalty from Lionel Messi and a strike from Xavi Hernandez.

Valencia started the match just two points above the relegation zone, while Barcelona had all but given up on winning the title, and the home fans showed their displeasure at their second consecutive season without silverware by waving their white handkerchiefs before kick-off.

Messi went some way to appeasing them after just five minutes when he was fouled by defender Alexis on the edge of the area, and stroked the resulting spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Xavi doubled the lead just three minutes later when he pounced on a loose ball to fire a low shot past keeper Timo Hildebrand.

Henry scored his first of the match just 15 minutes in, latching onto the Samuel Eto'o's ball pulled back from the by-line to sidefoot in.

Henry scored his second and Barca's fourth on the hour mark with a well-struck curling effort into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Bojan replaced Eto'o soon afterward and continued to plague the beleaguered Valencia defence.

He scored after being on the pitch for just five minutes when a fine passage of play with capped by Deco's defence-splitting pass to the teenager that he controlled and finished in clinical fashion.

With ten minutes remaining the rout was complete when fellow substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen squared a ball across goal for the unmarked Bojan to strike first-time.

The win will be cold comfort for Barca's fans, however, as they may have to see their team give Real Madrid a guard of honour as champions when the two sides meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

VILLARREAL 2-0 GETAFE

Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci struck two first-half goals to give Villarreal a win that makes them favourites to take runners-up spot in the league.

Nihat scored his first when he side-footed home after fellow striker Giuseppe Rossi had slid the ball across the face of the goal and took his tally for the season to 17 when he picked his spot at the far post after good work from Robert Pires.

ALMERIA 1-1 REAL BETIS

German winger David Odonkor put Betis ahead with his first goal of the season, firing past Almeria keeper Diego Alves after a great solo run down the right flank.

Almeria defender Ruben Pulido equalised at the start of the second half, taking advantage of some sloppy defending to clip a close-range shot past keeper Casto.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1-2 REAL MALLORCA

Mallorca striker Dani Guiza became the favourite for the Pichichi (top league scorer) with 24 goals, 18 of which have come away from home, after notching a neat double at San Mames.

The Spaniard put the islanders ahead after three minutes when he brought down a long cross from Juan Arango with his right foot and then fired home with his left.

Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente equalised six minutes later when the big centre-forward headed in after a corner, but Guiza secured the win when he nodded across the line after another corner 20 minutes from time.

LEVANTE 1-1 ESPAÑOL

Espanyol, who had taken just two points from their previous six games, needed a last-minute penalty from striker Luis Garcia to earn a draw at already-relegated Levante who took the lead through a great solo goal from midfielder Juanma.

Levante had midfielder Mathieu Berson sent off just before half-time but Espanyol defender Marc Torrejon followed him down the tunnel on the hour.

Levante were reduced to nine men in the final minute when defender Alvaro was sent off for the penalty.

RACING SANTANDER 3-2 REAL MURCIA

Javier Clemente's Murcia were relegated after squandering a two-goal lead against Racing who remain in the race for the Champions League places after this impressive comeback win.

Murcia went 2-0 up inside the half-hour thanks to goals from Dani Aquino and Ivan Alonso, but Racing pulled one back before the break when defender David de Coz turned a Mohamed Tchite cross into his own net.

Midfielder Jorge Lopez equalised 40 seconds into the second half and Pedro Munitis struck the winner when he lifted a first-time shot high into the net.

Murcia ended the game with nine men after Alvaro Mejia and Stephane Pignol were sent off within three minutes of each other.

SEVILLA 2-0 VALLADOLID

Two goals from Brazilian midfielder Renato kept Sevilla in the hunt for a Champions League place and left Valladolid just two points above the relegation zone.

Renato scored his first when he headed in after a fine cross from winger Diego Capel in the ninth minute and made it 2-0 when he rounded keeper Sergio Asenjo late in the first half.

Tony Mabert / Reuters

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Barcelona will be missing striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Deco through suspension when they take on champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Centre-back Gabriel Milito will also miss the game after damaging his cruciate ligament and is expected to be out of action for around six months, while Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta are also out injured.

Barca must win the game if they are to have a chance of beating Villarreal to the runners-up spot behind Real and gaining an automatic place in the Champions League group phase.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has admitted he is upset his team will have to give arch-rivals Real Madrid the guard of honour as they run on to the pitch at the Bernabeu in recognition of their victory in the Spanish league.

"As a Barca fan I don't like the having to clap them on to the pitch, but as a sportsman you have to recognise the champions and we will do that," the Barca defender said.

"We didn't do things right this season, we weren't consistent and Real Madrid are deserving champions."

Villarreal are confident they can keep Barcelona at bay in the race for second place given their four-point cushion over the Catalans with just three games to play.

"The good thing is that we depend on ourselves and know that if we win there is nothing Barcelona can do to stop us," defender Diego Godin said.

Getafe goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri said his team's match against Almeria is the most important game of the season given that they have yet to secure their survival in the top flight.

"For us the league is more important than anything else and so this game is the most important we have played," said the Argentine international.

"It seems unbelievable that we still need some points to get out of this situation after what the club has achieved this season, but football is an ungrateful sport." Getafe reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup and the final of the Copa del Rey.

Valencia host Real Zaragoza in a classic relegation six-pointer at the Mestalla.

Zaragoza, who scrambled a last-gasp 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, are just a point above the drop zone, while Valencia, who were hammered 6-0 by Barca on Sunday, have only a point more than their opponents.

-Reuters-

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Barca were forced to form a guard of honour for Bernd Schuster's men prior to kick-off, and they were a goal down inside a quarter of an hour thanks to a typically clinical finish from Raul.

Arjen Robben made it two shortly afterwards when he headed home from Guti's free-kick, before substitutes Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy completed the visitors' misery in the second half.

Thierry Henry netted a late consolation, but it was not enough to soften the blow of being consigned to Champions League pre-qualifying next season by second-placed Villarreal's earlier win at Recreativo.

The visitors saw a lot of the ball in the game's opening stages, but with 12 minutes gone Real took the lead when Raul curled an inch-perfect shot around Victor Valdes from the edge of the box after Guti's trip on Rafael Marquez went unnoticed.

Less than 10 minutes later it was 2-0 as Robben followed up his header in the title-clinching 2-1 win at Osasuna at the weekend with another headed effort after Guti's right-wing free-kick caught the Barca defence napping.

Real's passing displayed a fluency that has typified some of their best performances this season, and Guti and Robben both drew saves from Valdes before the break.

Los Merengues continued to dominate in the second period, and after Sylvinho brilliantly blocked Robben's cross from the left, Xavi was forced to hack Mahamadou Diarra's prodded effort off the line.

Diarra was quickly back on the attack though, and with just under half an hour to play his pass from the right allowed Higuain - who had been on the pitch less than an minute - to calmly lift the ball over Valdes.

Carles Puyol then conceded a penalty when he used his arms to block Robinho's shot from the left-hand edge of the area, enabling Van Nistelrooy to tuck the ball past Valdes from 12 yards with his first touch after coming on for Raul.

Henry coolly tucked the ball home from Lionel Messi's through-ball to claim a late consolation, before Xavi's injury-time sending off for a second bookable offence sealed a dismal night and a wretched season for the Catalan giants.

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RECREATIVO HUELVA 0 VILLARREAL 2

Goals from Nihat Kahveci and Guillermo Franco allowed Villarreal to stretch their lead over third-placed Barcelona to seven points with a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Recreativo.

The game at the Nuevo Colombino got off to a scrappy start enlightened by the departure of Recre midfielder Rafael Barber with an injury sustained while slyly attempting to trip Nihat.

Recre, who went into the game just outside the relegation zone, then began to force the issue, and after the busy Florent Sinama-Pongolle cracked a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the area, visiting goalkeeper Diego Lopez produced an excellent point-blank save to deny Ruben.

But the visitors emerged from half-time with fresh purpose, and after five minutes of the second period they went ahead when Nihat curled a free-kick into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.

Javier Camunas and Ruben forced Lopez into saves as Recre hunted an equaliser, but they were undone by a well-constructed counter-attack with 10 minutes remaining that saw substitute Franco tuck home Santi Cazorla's low centre from the left.

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DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 LEVANTE 0

Striker Riki grabbed the win for Deportivo against their relegated opponents with a clever improvised finish three minutes from time.

The Levante players staged a protest after the kickoff at the club's failure to pay them by standing still in the centre circle while a Deportivo player ran the length of the pitch and hoofed the ball out of play for a goal kick.

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GETAFE 4 ALMERIA 2

A first victory in eight games for Getafe but they did it the hard way, battling their way back after Albert Crusat and an own goal from defender Daniel Cata Diaz had put Almeria 2-0 up after a little over 10 minutes.

Striker Juan Albin began the fightback when he snapped in after the Almeria defence failed to clear a free kick and Manu del Moral equalised with a stunning solo effort just after the hour.

Del Moral struck again to put Getafe 3-2 up when he drilled in a first-time shot midway through the second half and midfielder Esteban Ganero wrapped up from the penalty spot after a handball from former Getafe player Ruben Pulido.

- - - -

RACING SANTANDER 0 SEVILLA 3

Sevilla stayed in the hunt for a Champions League place with this impressive win in torrential rain.

Racing spurned the chance to take the lead when Argentine midfielder Aldo Duscher smashed a penalty against the bar and were made to pay by Sevilla defender Federico Fazio who scored either side of the break to put the visitors 2-0 up.

Racing had defender Ayoze sent off nine minutes from time and Renato added a third when his shot took a deflection off defender Jose Moraton and ended up in the back of the net.

- - - -

REAL MALLORCA 2 OSASUNA 1

Osasuna remain in the relegation zone after this costly defeat against the in-form islanders.

Mallorca striker Dani Guiza took his tally for the season to 25 when he fired past keeper Ricardo with a pin-point first time shot in the first half but Javier Portillo looked to have earned his side a point when equalised 16 minutes from time.

The former Real Madrid striker blotted his copy book when he was sent off seven minutes later for a reckless challenge on Fernando Navarro and Oscar Trejo snatched the win for Mallorca in the final minute.

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REAL BETIS 1 VALLADOLID 1

Honours even between two sides battling for survival in the top flight.

Winger Mark Gonzalez put Betis in front from the penalty spot early in the second half, striker Victor drilled in the equaliser and Valladolid managed to hang on for a point despite having Daniel Cifuentes sent off 10 minutes from time.

- - - -

REAL MURCIA 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

Bilbao fell behind to an early goal from Uruguayan striker Ivan Alonso but hit back for a win thanks to a goal from towering centre forward Fernando Llorente and a late effort from midfielder Igor Gabilondo.

- - - -

VALENCIA 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 0

Victory for Valencia in a classic relegation six-pointer thanks to a neatly worked goal from David Silva on 21 minutes.

The Spain international took the gloss of the win, however, when he was sent off late in the game after picking up two quick-fire bookings, the second for dissent.

Tom Williams / Eurosport / Reuters

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La Liga - Rijkaard out, Guardiola inEurosport - Thu, 08 May 18:57:00 2008 Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will be replaced by former player Pep Guardiola in the summer, according to club president Joan Laporta.

More StoriesReal deepen Barca gloom "The cycle is finished because the results haven't gone our way," Laporta said. "The situation was very disappointing last season.

"We haven't been able to correct the errors that were committed then and we have decided that Frank should be relieved of his post at the end of the season."

Rijkaard - pictured to the left of Guardiola - has come under increasing pressure since failing to any deliver silverware following their domestic and European double in 2006, and the writing was on the wall well before the humiliating 4-1 drubbing at Real Madrid after their bitter rivals' consecutive Liga title win.

The Dutchman joined the club in 2003 and turned around the fortunes of an underachieving side while playing expansive, attacking football based around Brazilian star Ronaldinho.

But as Ronaldinho's form and commitment dipped, Rijkaard's control over his charges waned and he was widely expected to leave the club in the summer.

However, the real surprise is the appointment of Guardiola, who has no senior management experience although he has coached the club's B team since retiring as a player in 2007.

A former Spain international midfielder, Guardiola spent the majority of his playing career at Barca before an ill-fated spell in Italy with Brescia and Roma that was marred by a six-month drug ban in 2001 that was successfully appealed six years later.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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Cristiano Ronaldo has shocked Manchester United by saying it is his "dream" to play in Spain.

The 23-year-old has been linked with La Liga champions Real Madrid, who said earlier this week they could afford to pay £80 million for him.

Ronaldo, who has four years left on his £120,000-a-week contract, confirmed that a future move to the Bernabeu move would suit him.

The Portuguese international said he would make a statement about his future after the Champions League final, casting a cloud over United ahead of next Wednesday's showdown with Chelsea in Moscow.

"I have said a thousand times that I have one dream - to play in Spain," Ronaldo said.

"Sometimes your dreams don't come true but I dream, I still dream, and I am happy at Manchester United but the future? Nobody knows.

"It is always important to know that other teams like you, it gives you motivation, if the other teams say your name all the time.

"But I have said a thousand times I am very happy at the club, I'm very happy in Manchester, I want to stay here, I say this is my home but the future, nobody knows, only God knows."

Asked in the Spanish press about his plans for next season Ronaldo refused to guarantee Manchester United fans that he would still be at Old Trafford.

"I'll talk about my immediate future after the Champions League final.

"I'm happy at the club, I'm happy at Manchester United, I want to stay, but you never know."

Ronaldo was speaking after collecting the prestigious Football Writers' award at a gala dinner in London.

The winger, who also won the accolade last season, netted an outstanding 41 goals during the season, 31 in the Premier League.

Last month Ronaldo appeared to reassure fans about his future at Old Trafford, saying: "I think I am in the right place. I want to carry on and this for me is a good moment to stay at the club and play at the best level."

Seán Fay / Eurosport

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Real Madrid's final match of the season is in doubt as players from cash-strapped Levante have announced they will strike unless they are paid money owed to them dating back to last season.

The players have said they are owed 18 million euros and will only play if given an immediate guarantee they will receive 13 million of that amount.

Meanwhile Madrid skipper Raul, the club's top scorer this season with 18 league goals, has accepted that he will not be included in the Spain squad for Euro 2008.

"My next objective is to rest up and then prepare myself for next season," the striker said.

Atletico Madrid could still finish in third place if they win away against Valencia on Sunday and Barcelona do not beat relegated Real Murcia. Barca have won just one of their last eight Liga matches.Racing Santander will qualify for Europe for the first time if they beat Osasuna at home on Sunday.

Any one of Real Zaragoza, Osasuna, Recreativo and Valladolid could fill the final relegation berth and join Levante and Murcia in the second division next season.

Zaragoza are away at high-flying Mallorca, Osasuna travel to Racing and Recre are at home to Valladolid.

Murcia coach Javier Clemente is expected to extend his contract for another two years despite the team's relegation.

The former Spain coach took charge in early March when they were second from bottom, six points from safety.

They remain in the same position in the table, but are now 12 points behind Zaragoza and 13 adrift of Osasuna, who are just above the drop zone.

Getafe coach Michael Laudrup confirmed on Friday he will be leaving the Primera Liga club this summer.Speculation has been rife in Spain that Laudrup would call time on his stint at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez after just one season, with the Dane being linked to a number of other clubs in recent weeks.

Reuters

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------American striker Jozy Altidore has described his move to Spanish Primera Liga club Villarreal as a 'dream come true' but knows that he may have to go out on loan before playing for the Yellow Submarine.

The 18-year-old has joined Villarreal from the New York Red Bulls in a 6.5 million euro deal and he was introduced by the Spanish club at a press conference on Wednesday.

'Coming to the Spanish league with Villarreal is a dream come true,' the United States interntional said. 'Everything is very exciting and I do not feel any pressure.'

Altidore knows some Americans have struggled when they first make the step up from Major League Soccer to top-level European football - most notably when fellow teenage phenom Freddy Adu made the move to Benfica last season - and he is open to a loan move before trying to break into the Villarreal side.

'I've been playing soccer since I was three years old,' he said. 'It's my real passion. That's why I want to progress here, that would be very important for me. However, if Villarreal believes I have to get experience at another club, I will do it as well.'

Altidore first broke into the New York side at the age of 16, and has scored 15 goals in 37 appearances, 25 of them starts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------American striker Jozy Altidore has described his move to Spanish Primera Liga club Villarreal as a 'dream come true' but knows that he may have to go out on loan before playing for the Yellow Submarine.

The 18-year-old has joined Villarreal from the New York Red Bulls in a 6.5 million euro deal and he was introduced by the Spanish club at a press conference on Wednesday.

'Coming to the Spanish league with Villarreal is a dream come true,' the United States interntional said. 'Everything is very exciting and I do not feel any pressure.'

Altidore knows some Americans have struggled when they first make the step up from Major League Soccer to top-level European football - most notably when fellow teenage phenom Freddy Adu made the move to Benfica last season - and he is open to a loan move before trying to break into the Villarreal side.

'I've been playing soccer since I was three years old,' he said. 'It's my real passion. That's why I want to progress here, that would be very important for me. However, if Villarreal believes I have to get experience at another club, I will do it as well.'

Altidore first broke into the New York side at the age of 16, and has scored 15 goals in 37 appearances, 25 of them starts.

This kid is gonna make it HUUUUGGGGE in Europe.

I'm soooo in! Villareal!!!!

Villarreal finished second last year in Liga behind Real Madrid, they are a huge team! they are masters signing young and unknown players! Villarrral say he will play this year with the yellow submarine. sadly he will find very difficult to play at Villarreal, huge stars, not a lot of chances.Some others clubs from Liga wanted Altidore on loan, including Recreativo!I disagree about the comments about American players.Tab Ramos was a great player with Betis in mid90's! he had the infamous incident in wc94.Keller was the goalie of the most loved spanish small club in the country, Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at legendary Vallecas district.Interesting news for Villarreal and great news for American football fans!Villarreal signs always great young and unknown players, today also 6 players from River Plate.Villarreal star is Senna, Cazorla is also a great player, both scored penalties against Italy in last eurocup.

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